Serotonergically controlled reduction in pain reactions was observed (Popov et al.
2009).
More than 70% of the safflower seed oil content is linolenic acid. Linolenic acid
accelerates the proteolytic degradation of the tyrosinase enzymes involved in the
synthesis of monoaminergic neurotransmitters that are involved in transmitting pain
signals (Popov et al. 2009). Safflower seeds contain low amounts of 5HT and
serotonin
conjugates.
Representative
serotonin
derivatives
include
4-coumaroylserotonin and feruloylserotonin. They possess strong antioxidant and
other therapeutic properties and have great potential to be used as a prophylactic and
treatment option for various ailments (Popov et al. 2009).
Analgesic properties of safflower oil are also attributed to the presence of
serotonin (5HT). Administration of the oil to the region of sciatic nerve leads to an
increase in serotonin quantity in the synaptic clefts of the sciatic nerve and also
partially blocks the functional activity of this nerve. This effect is also beneficial in
treating other neurological problems, i.e., depression. Also, it is a safer option, when
compared to tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) amitriptyline, safflower seed oil
exhibited no neurotoxicity (Popov et al. 2009).
Serotonin conjugates can have a direct analgesic effect. N-feruloylserotonin has
been shown to reduce anxiety in the high pain-threshold rats. Scientists have
observed selective stress-reducing effects of N-feruloylserotonin in stress-sensitive
animals (Yamamotova et al. 2007). The analgesic effect of safflower seed oil can
also be attributed to strong antioxidant activity and inhibitory effect on tyrosinase by
serotonin conjugates. Serotonin derivatives have been reported to exert a
neuroprotective effect on high glucose-induced nerve cell death. It has been shown
to inhibit the overproduction of the mitochondrial superoxide produced by hyperglycemia by acting as a scavenger of the superoxide radical (Popov et al. 2009).
In pharmacopuncture, safflower seed oil can be used as a local anesthetic for
treatment of pain related to various etiologies. Pharmacopuncture is widely
employed in eastern medicine and it directly administers the drugs into acupuncture
point which increases the therapeutic efficacy and requires a very small amount of
drug with few or no side effects of the therapy (Popov et al. 2009).
17.4.3 Anti-Ulcerogenic Activity
Gastric ulcers pose a significant problem in the medical field with significant
morbidity and development of complications in gastric ulcers exhibit significant
mortality rates globally (Toma et al. 2014). The essential oil of safflower seeds has
been shown to exhibit efficient antiulcerogenic activity. After administration of
hydrochloric acid-ethanol in mice to induce ulcers, a safflower seed oil dose of
750 mg/kg was shown to decrease the ulcerogenic lesions (Toma et al. 2014). Also,
significant antiulcerogenic properties were observed against non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastric ulcers at a dose of 187.5 mg/kg. The
same dose was seen to increase the gastric volume, gastric mucus production, and
434
M. Nazir et al.
2009).
More than 70% of the safflower seed oil content is linolenic acid. Linolenic acid
accelerates the proteolytic degradation of the tyrosinase enzymes involved in the
synthesis of monoaminergic neurotransmitters that are involved in transmitting pain
signals (Popov et al. 2009). Safflower seeds contain low amounts of 5HT and
serotonin
conjugates.
Representative
serotonin
derivatives
include
4-coumaroylserotonin and feruloylserotonin. They possess strong antioxidant and
other therapeutic properties and have great potential to be used as a prophylactic and
treatment option for various ailments (Popov et al. 2009).
Analgesic properties of safflower oil are also attributed to the presence of
serotonin (5HT). Administration of the oil to the region of sciatic nerve leads to an
increase in serotonin quantity in the synaptic clefts of the sciatic nerve and also
partially blocks the functional activity of this nerve. This effect is also beneficial in
treating other neurological problems, i.e., depression. Also, it is a safer option, when
compared to tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) amitriptyline, safflower seed oil
exhibited no neurotoxicity (Popov et al. 2009).
Serotonin conjugates can have a direct analgesic effect. N-feruloylserotonin has
been shown to reduce anxiety in the high pain-threshold rats. Scientists have
observed selective stress-reducing effects of N-feruloylserotonin in stress-sensitive
animals (Yamamotova et al. 2007). The analgesic effect of safflower seed oil can
also be attributed to strong antioxidant activity and inhibitory effect on tyrosinase by
serotonin conjugates. Serotonin derivatives have been reported to exert a
neuroprotective effect on high glucose-induced nerve cell death. It has been shown
to inhibit the overproduction of the mitochondrial superoxide produced by hyperglycemia by acting as a scavenger of the superoxide radical (Popov et al. 2009).
In pharmacopuncture, safflower seed oil can be used as a local anesthetic for
treatment of pain related to various etiologies. Pharmacopuncture is widely
employed in eastern medicine and it directly administers the drugs into acupuncture
point which increases the therapeutic efficacy and requires a very small amount of
drug with few or no side effects of the therapy (Popov et al. 2009).
17.4.3 Anti-Ulcerogenic Activity
Gastric ulcers pose a significant problem in the medical field with significant
morbidity and development of complications in gastric ulcers exhibit significant
mortality rates globally (Toma et al. 2014). The essential oil of safflower seeds has
been shown to exhibit efficient antiulcerogenic activity. After administration of
hydrochloric acid-ethanol in mice to induce ulcers, a safflower seed oil dose of
750 mg/kg was shown to decrease the ulcerogenic lesions (Toma et al. 2014). Also,
significant antiulcerogenic properties were observed against non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastric ulcers at a dose of 187.5 mg/kg. The
same dose was seen to increase the gastric volume, gastric mucus production, and
434
M. Nazir et al.